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The Locust is an American rock band from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, complexity, and new wave weirdness.

Formation and early years (1994–2000)
Prior to The Locust founding members members Justin Pearson and Dylan Scharf where in the hardcore punk band Struggle together, formed in late 1990. The band only lasted three years. Despite this the had opportunities to share musical space with other significant bands with similar ideological perspectives such as Born Against, Downcast, Bikini Kill, and Econochrist. The band disbanded in 1994. The Locust was formed in 1994 by Bobby Bray, Justin Pearson, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor. After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at the current four-piece lineup in 2001, consisting of Bray, Pearson, Joey Karam and Gabe Serbian. Around the same time as forming The Locust Pearson was in the hardcore punk band Swing Kids, formed in the mid-90s. The group also featured Jimmy LaValle who joined The Locust after the disbandment of Swing Kids. Prior to joining The Locust in 1997, Joey Karam played in the punk band Le Shok, formed in 1997. Prior to joining The Locust in 1998, Gabe Serbian played in the grindcore band Cattle Decapitation, formed in 1996, with Serbian and Locust founding member Dave Astor.

In September 1998, The Locust released their first full-length album, The Locust, through Gold Standard Laboratories.

Plague Soundscapes and New Erections (2001–present)
On June 24, 2003, The Locust released their second full-length album, Plague Soundscapes, through ANTI-.

On March 20, 2007, The Locust released their third full-length album, New Erections, through ANTI-.

On July 31, 2012, The Locust released the compilation album, The Gold Standard Labs, through ANTI-. The album contains all the band's marital released on the Gold Standard Laboratories label which is all their martial from 1997 to 2002.

Musical style
Originally a powerviolence band with a strong tendency towards synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. About the band's aesthetic, singer/bassist Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." The Locust's music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."

Influences
The Locust take inspiration from powerviolence (Crossed Out, Dropdead), obscure experimental rock (Art Bears, Renaldo and the Loaf), and death metal.

Equipment
Karam plays an assortment of analog synthesizers, including various Moog models and a patch-panel modular synth. Bray plays a Gibson SG, and Pearson plays a see-through body Dan Armstrong bass made by Ampeg. Serbian plays Ludwig drums with Paiste cymbals.

Theatrics
The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas. Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live.

Ideology
The Locust boycotts Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues. This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas, as well as another tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows.

The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to political commentary and critiques of religion.

In media

 * "Nice Tranquil Thumbs in Mouth" and "An Extra Piece of Dead Meat" are featured in the film Cecil B. Demented.

Members

 * Current
 * Bobby Bray – guitar, vocals (1994–present)
 * Justin Pearson – bass, vocals (1994–present)
 * Joey Karam – keyboards, vocals (1997–present)
 * Gabe Serbian – guitar (1998–2001), drums (2001–present)
 * Previous
 * Dylan Scharf – vocals, guitar (1994–1996)
 * Dave Warshaw – keyboards, vocals (1994–1996)
 * Dave Astor – drums (1994–2001)
 * Jimmy LaValle – keyboards, vocals (1996–1998)

Discography
Live albums
 * Studio albums
 * The Locust (1998, Gold Standard Laboratories)
 * Plague Soundscapes (2003, ANTI-)
 * New Erections (2007, ANTI-)
 * Compilation albums
 * Molecular Genetics from the Gold Standard Labs (2012, ANTI-)
 * The Peel Sessions (2010, Radio Surgery)
 * EPs
 * The Locust (1997, Gold Standard Laboratories)
 * Flight of the Wounded Locust (2001, Gold Standard Laboratories)
 * Well I'll Be a Monkey's Uncle (2002, Gold Standard Laboratories)
 * Follow the Flock, Step in Shit (2003, Three One G)
 * Safety Second, Body Last (2005, Radio Surgery)
 * Splits
 * split with Man Is the Bastard (1995, King of the Monsters)
 * split with Jenny Piccolo (1996, Three One G)
 * split with Arab on Radar (2000, Gold Standard Laboratories)
 * split with Melt-Banana (2002, Gold Standard Laboratories)